Leadership for Women

LAST week, Radcliffe officially revealed its choice of Linda S. Wilson, a University of Michigan administrator, to succeed Matina S. Horner as Radcliffe's seventh president. The selection of Wilson for the post raises questions about both the future of the institution and its role in undergraduate life. The new president's primary challenge will be to distinguish herself from her predecessor while continuing Radcliffe's scholarly programs and further defining its relationship to undergraduate women. Although the choice of Wilson gives some indication of Radcliffe's agenda for the future, it is as yet too soon to judge her abilities or priorities in leading the institution.

Wilson comes to the job from a scholarly background in chemistry, and more recent experience in research and policy administration. She is less known for her scholarship than for her work on scientific research committees, fundraising and university administration.

Though Wilson is not known as a scholar, this does not necessarily impede her ability to make a substantial contribution as head of Radcliffe. As the search committee chair Nancy-Beth Sheerr '71 has rightly said, "The best administrators are not always the top scholars."

Some Radcliffe advisers, however, have expressed concern over Wilson's lack of feminist scholarship and identification with women's causes. As one insider said, "What people are upset about is the lack of her track record on something related to feminism or women... or even the most traditional feminist organization." Wilson's lack of a track record on feminism and unwillingness to call herself a feminist is disturbing, but does not have to limit her potential as an advocate for women.

IN the past 17 years, Horner has been responsible for defining Radcliffe's current relationship with Harvard, and for establishing Radcliffe as what many call the foremost research institute on scholarship by, for and about women. However, in recent years, Radcliffe has been accused of neglecting undergraduates by focusing primarily on its postgraduate programs.

Most undergraduate women today scarcely acknowledge Radcliffe's role in their lives, choosing to identify themselves as Harvard students. And some women complain that Radcliffe sits silently by while they fight for a women's studies concentration, the eradication of the all-male final clubs, more women faculty, better campus security and greater equality in those Harvard departments known for their sexist classroom climate.

If Radcliffe wants women to make full use of their potential, then Wilson must use her influence with Harvard to speak out about women faculty and issues which concern undergraduate women. Radcliffe's current policy of "benign neglect" will only continue to alienate women students, and will ultimately undermine its own future.

In her acceptance speech, Wilson indicated that she gives high priority to Radcliffe's continuing evolution as a research institution for women's scholarship and to issues of women in science. However, she did not specify the role she sees for Radcliffe in oversight of the position of women at Harvard. Thus far, she seems to echo Horner's priorities, and thus Horner's shortcomings. Though Wilson has obviously been briefed on the key issues concerning undergraduate women, she has yet to give specific indications of her plans to address these concerns.

THERE is much room for Wilson to build on the success for Horner's presidency, strengthen the college's ties to undergraduates, and to expand Radcliffe's role in innovative ways. Her top priority shold be to reclaim a real voice for women at the University.

Radcliffe can and should play an important role in these women's lives by providing them with valuable female mentors and encouraging them to fully develop their potential in the face on continuing gender discrimination both of campus and in society.

Opportunities abound for Radcliffe to establish programs in conjuction with Harvard's undergraduate departments and graduate schools to encourage scholarship by and about women. President Derek C. Bok has mentioned these as potential areas for future cooperation between the two institutions. Wilson would do well to call him on his suggestions, and play a few hands of her own to further the status of women at Harvard.